Certified Professional Food Safety (CP-FS) Practice Exam

Which agency often conducts inspections on food service establishments?

1. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

2. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

3. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

4. National Institute of Health (NIH)

The correct answer is: Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of food service establishments. The agency sets the standards for food safety and oversees the regulations that food service operations must comply with to protect public health. This includes inspections to assess whether establishments follow safe food handling practices, maintain proper sanitation, and adhere to labeling requirements. The FDA collaborates with state and local health departments, which are typically responsible for conducting the actual inspections. However, the FDA provides guidelines and oversight to ensure that food safety practices are consistent across the nation. This focus on food safety inspection is a crucial component of the FDA's mission to safeguard food and drugs for the public. In contrast, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) primarily deals with environmental protection, setting regulations for pollution control and hazardous waste, and while it may have some intersection with food service regarding water quality and pesticide regulations, its main focus is not on food establishments. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) primarily oversees meat, poultry, and egg production, specifically related to these products rather than general food service inspections. Lastly, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) focuses on medical research and public health, with no direct involvement in the inspections of food service establishments.